Tough Year For These NBA Players

These guys would love to start the year over. Or get some PEDs. Whether it’s injuries or just poor performance, these ballers are having down years.

Ben Gordon

Gordon hasn’t played since January 11 when he pulled his groin. But before that happened Gordon wasn’t shooting the ball like he can. He’s shooting just 32% from three-point land, down from his career mark of 41%. Most of his numbers are down, including points per game. Not a good first year in Detroit for one of the game’s better scorers.

Tyler Hansbrough

Hansbrough is averaging just 17 minutes per game on an Indiana team that is 16-29. less he starts hot next year. He’s also shooting just 36% from the floor. Contrast that with the Bulls late 1st round pick in Taj Gibson, who is shooting 49% and playing meaningful minutes for a Bulls team that is currently the 7th seed in the East.

Devin Harris

The Nets are simply brutal, sitting at 3-40 at the time of this writing. Harris has had injury problems, but even so, shooting less than 38% and just 21% from three-point range is just unacceptable. His scoring is down 6 points per game from last year’s 21.3 mark. You have to wonder what happens to Harris if/when John Wall goes to the Nets.

Baron Davis

B-Diddy has never really shot it for a high percentage, but his numbers this year are particularly woeful. You have to roundup to get his shooting percentage up to 40, and he keeps launching threes even though he converts at just a 27% clip. Is Davis one of the most overrated players in the NBA? He distributes well but misses a lot of shots.

Elton Brand

I know Brand has had his share of injuries, but the decline in his production is massive. Long gone are the days of 20 & 10 per night. Brand is averaging a meager 13.8 & 6 this season, and only mustered 13.8 and 8 per game last year. This can’t be what Philly was expecting when they signed Brand, and he is virtually unmovable. He’s signed for 3 more seasons after this one and will make $16, $17 and 18 million over those 3 years. Yikes.

Kirk Hinrich

Hinrich is liked in Chicago because he is a grinder-type of baller. He plays hard, hits the deck and is considered to be a leader. But Hinrich is an overrated defender, even though the Bulls ask him to guard big two-guards at times. After a rebound year in 2008-2009, Hinrich is underachieving this season, shooting well below his career averages. I that the Bulls will move them if they can.

Vince Carter

The Magic stepped up and made a bold draft day deal that brought Carter to Orlando with Ryan Anderson for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie and Courtney Lee. Carter hasn’t paid off yet. He’s shooting just 30% from behind the arc and less than 40% overall. Carter hasn’t looked much like the eight-time All-Star he has been in years past.

Josh Howard

Another guy who has battled injuries, but Howard has been back and playing regularly for the Mavs since the beginning of December. You can understand the reduction in scoring due to decreased minutes, but his shooting has been horrendous. Last year he shot it 45%/35%. This year it’s 38%/26%.

Trevor Ariza

Trevor Ariza parlayed a great season with the world champion Lakers into a fat free agent deal. He signed a 5-year, $33 million deal the Houston Rockets. The Lakers shrugged their shoulders and went out and signed Ron Artest to almost the exact same deal. Ariza rewarded the Rockets by going out and having a down season. It’s a lot easier when Kobe’s around, eh?

Chris Duhon

After a stellar first season with the New York Knicks, Chris Duhon is back to his Chicago Bulls-like production. He’s shooting just 35% for the year and 33%from three-point land. He shot 42%/39% a year ago. His scoring, assists and even free throw percentage are down. Of course, the Knicks are still and have been a complete mess for a long time now, so why should Duhon be any different?